Synthesis of brookite TiO2 nanoparticles by ambient condition sol process

Brookite TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by ambient condition sol process of hydrolyzing TiCl4 in an acidic alcohol under refluxing. The spherical morphology of the particles was found from the SEM and TEM micrographs. The crystalline nature and the brookite phase were confirmed from the X-ray diffractometry. The mean particle size was found to be in the range of 30 nm. Agglomerate formation was observed and could be predicted from the heat released during the hydrolysis of TiCl4. This work presents a simple/direct method for the preparation of high purity brookite TiO2 nanoparticles.